David Silva Wins It Late For Man City At Hoffenheim
By Joshua Walters
David Silva saved Manchester City with a last-ditch goal as the Citizens got their 2018/19 Champions League campaign back on winning ways with a 2-1 win at Hoffenheim on Tuesday.
The Citizens lost the opening day fixture 2-1 at home to Lyon, and the fact they have lost all previous four Champions League games under match day referee, Damir Skomina, meant that Pep Guardiola's men were in for more than a battle.
And, Ishak Belfodil got history on track when he shot the hosts into the lead 47 seconds after referee Damir Skomina’s commencement of the game.
The striker picked up Kerem Demirbay’s sweet pass to send a deep shot inside the box to beat goalkeeper Ederson Moraes.
The joy was however short lived for the hosts as Sergio Aguero responded for Manchester City in the 8th minute. Leroy Sane sprayed a pass out to Aguero after attacking the penalty box, and the striker had an easy job to slot the ball into an empty net.
Damir Skomina showed Nicolas Otamendi the first yellow card of the evening in the 12th minute for a late tackle on Adam Szalai, and Raheem Sterling burst into the box after a fine solo run two minutes later, but could not beat Oliver Baumann with his low drive towards the lower corner of the far post.
Sergio Aguero shot a rebound wide from close range in the 32nd minute before inviting Oliver Baumann to make a diving save two minutes into injury time of the first half.
David Silva opened the second half a shot wide the far post, and it took 20 minutes before Manchester City recorded the game’s next daring moment with a header towards the middle of the goal which could not Oliver Baumann.
The game appeared to be heading to a draw, but disaster struck for the hosts in the 87th minute as the defence gifted a chance to a lurking David Silva, who kept his cool and rolled the ball into the net from close range.
Leroy Sane shot wide from close range four minutes into injury time, and Sergio Aguero closed the game with a yellow card following a needless challenge on Baumann.
